Patricia Boya

Patricia Boya is a Full Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Fribourg, within the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Medicine. She is a leading researcher in autophagy, mitophagy, and lysosomal biology, with a focus on retinal and neurodegenerative diseases.

Her research interests center on the molecular mechanisms of autophagy and mitophagy, particularly their roles in retinal health, aging, neurodegeneration, and cell death. She investigates how mitochondrial dynamics, lysosomal function, and autophagic flux contribute to diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, ALS, and Parkinson’s. Her work combines molecular biology, cell imaging, and preclinical models to uncover therapeutic targets.

The analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on mitophagy regulation, neuroinflammation (especially via the cGAS/STING pathway), and the development of neuroprotective compounds. She has contributed to high-impact reviews and guidelines in autophagy research, and her work spans fundamental mechanisms to translational applications.

She is actively involved in scientific leadership, including the "Women in Autophagy" initiative to promote gender equity in science and the "DRIVE" international PhD training program in autophagy.

Dr. Boya has published over 150 articles in top journals including Nature, Nature Communications, Autophagy, and Cell Death & Disease. Her work is highly collaborative, involving interdisciplinary teams across Europe.

She leads a research group focused on cellular recycling mechanisms and their implications for vision and aging, contributing significantly to the understanding of autophagy in health and disease.